Keep exercising your faith (1)

Paul wrote, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV). Observe the words “now faith.” Thank God for the faith of our fathers, but to move the mountain that stands in your way, you need “now faith.” Jesus said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move…and it will move’” (Matthew 17:20 NKJV). Your grandmother’s faith may have moved her mountain, but it’s going to take your own faith to move “this mountain.” We all have mountains in our lives, and God is willing to move them. So what’s the problem? Doubt! Other people’s opinions! Failure to understand God’s Word! Even though Jesus gave His disciples power to heal the sick, they were rendered helpless by a demon-possessed boy. “Why could we not cast the spirit out of him?” they asked (see Matthew 17:19). Notice what Jesus told them: (1) Be willing to start small. A tiny “mustard seed” can grow into something much bigger. So start where you are and believe God for ordinary, everyday things, and when He honours your faith, thank Him and build on it. (2) Watch what you say. “If you have faith…you will say to this mountain, ‘Move…and it will move.’” Your words release the life-giving force of God’s Word. So line up what comes out of your mouth with what’s written in scripture. (3) Be willing to do what’s needed. Some mountains need a little extra prayer, or in the case of this demon-possessed boy, the power that comes through fasting. The bottom line is this: when you do what God’s Word says, you will see mountains moved in your life.